‘World’s tallest drum is my dream’

For three months, Jonathan Remi Edward, a naturally gifted artist, kept to the improvised art studio located within the Badagry Heritage Museum, Lagos, a former District Office built in 1863. The 150-year-old ancient administrative office provided added inspiration for the artist.

He literarily closed his eyes and mind to any other art work. Each day, he is busy with chisel and hammer, chipping of hard wood into shape. Undaunted by time and materials constraint, he set a target for himself: to sculpt a symbolic drum.

Guided by the CEO, Femi Art Ware House, Mr. Femi Coker, Edward, 55, who once worked at the late Ben Enwonwu’s studio in Lagos as a studio assistant in the 80s, etched his mastery of the art on the long piece of wood. The symbolic drum is about 11 feet high and six feet in circumference. It is made of hard wood and sealed at the top with a deer’s skin. Around its long body are carved reliefs of various cultural and historical representations and interpretation.

To Edward, the drum is still an unfinished piece as there are areas to be fine-tuned and torched. “The drum is not finished yet. By the time it gets back from Kalakuta Museum exhibition, I will complete the remaining parts,” he said.

According to him, the drum project was the first of its kind he would handle adding that he was glad there were no challenges while producing the piece in the studio. “I fetched the wood from Gberefun across the Marina at the Point of No Return in Badagry,” Edward said. He described the drum as a product of ‘creative concept of imagination’ and that the art work was done solely by him without any studio assistants.

Coker, who inaugurated the sculptor to create the master-piece, said that he has been nursing the idea of the drum for years but constantly reviewing its format and design. He said the drum was created specifically as a tribute to the immense contributions of Blacks and people of African descents to world civilization. “In fact, the drum was created in honour of the irrepressible African spirit as well as a salute to Pan Africanism,” Coker said. He disclosed that the symbolic drum was inspired by the Sato drum of Togo, Benin Republics and the Ogu people of Badagry and Ogun state.

He described the sculptor as a naturally gifted artist who only had a secondary school education. “He had tutelage under his elder brother who is a master self-trained sculptor. He also worked as a studio assistant to the late Prof. Enwonwu in the 80s,” Coker added.

Its sheer height of 11 feet naturally makes the drum an outdoor piece or a museum piece. At the top of the drum are reliefs that symbolise empires and kingdoms of royalty. The three themes of the drum are on African heritage, culture and festivities.

According to Coker, the relief is to ‘tell our stories as African bordering on religion and culture. Africaa is very rich in culture, which is a springboard for development. It is a re-awakening call to Africans.’

The 11-foot-high drum is on exhibition at the Kalakuta Museum, Ikeja, Lagos as a tribute to an African icon, the late Afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The commemorative drum will not only be enjoyed by Nigerians or Africans as there are plans to take the drum on tour of African countries and America. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony organised by Femi Arts Ware House and De Roots Renaissance in Badagry, the CEO of De Root Renaissance, Mr Babtunde Olaide Mesewaku made a presentation to the US Consulate at the unveiling of the drum in Badagry requesting the support of the consulate in displaying the drum at an exhibition in the US. “I want the drum exhibited at the Black History month in US,” he requested.

He said the drum is symbolic in many respects and that it is being used to symbolise the monumental achievements of the Black race to world development and history. “We are also using the occasion to launch the De Root Renaissance newsletter. The development in terms of exploring the potentials of Badagry is yet to be realised. But we must commend Governor Fashola for his development programmes. Today’s event is without the support from any individual or government agency. It is driven by the love and passion for arts and culture,” he noted, adding that as from next year, Black History Month would be celebrated in Badagry.

The Director of Academic planning and Head Department of Social sciences, Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, Prof. Alaba Simpson , said the memories of slave trade might not be pleasant but that the history would not be forgotten. “The presentation of the drum shows that these memories have not been docile. The height of the drum shows the aspiration of Badagry and how slave trade history is being projected,” Simpson said.

Public Diplomacy Officer, US Embassy, Ms Rhonda Watson, who represented the USA Consular General, said it is important to focus on the celebration of the Black History Month because some years ago, the contributions and achievements of African Americans were never recorded, which means ‘we never existed.’

“This year’s edition of Black History Month is the 150 years of the celebration. Martin Luther’s I Have A Dream was realised by Obama’s victory as America’s president,” she added.

Watson, who was visiting Badagry for the first time, went emotional about her root as a African American, saying, “It is possible my great grand-parents were snatched from Badagry. If I am from here, I am glad to be back home. My husband is from Benin Republic, so we are happy to be home. African drums have always held special attractions for me. I hope the drum will serve as a call to action in tackling unemployment, corruption and violence against women. The Black History Month should be a month of reflection and renewed dedication for the future If we can help you to showcase the drum in the US, it is my pleasure to do so. But, the logistic will be much considering the drummers that will accompany the drum.”

The Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Ashamu Fadipe, who represented the commissioner, observed that colonialism created lots of problems for people of Cotonou, Ajase and Badagry, which would have been one entity but for colonialism. He said the state government is doing its best to provide infrastructure for Badagry.